1
as in theme
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition)
the motif of mute figures standing in lonely isolation is a recurrent one in the artist's works
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of motif
Meanwhile, Willow coordinated with her mom, wearing a strapless white dress that featured a bright orange-red floral motif.
—
Meg Walters, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
These motifs evolve into deeper explorations of aggression and subcultural aesthetics, dedicating space to his film Trash Humpers and the Shadow Fux paintings.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
The Singapore Botanical Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the world's great urban green spaces, inspired everything from the color palette (soft greens, aqua blues, natural wood tones) to the botanical motifs that appear in textiles and art throughout the property.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
Vintage Guess surf and skate graphics are layered and remixed with Hysteric’s motifs and retro stripes across a range of tees.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motif
Meg Walters, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
These motifs evolve into deeper explorations of aggression and subcultural aesthetics, dedicating space to his film Trash Humpers and the Shadow Fux paintings.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
The Singapore Botanical Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the world's great urban green spaces, inspired everything from the color palette (soft greens, aqua blues, natural wood tones) to the botanical motifs that appear in textiles and art throughout the property.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
Vintage Guess surf and skate graphics are layered and remixed with Hysteric’s motifs and retro stripes across a range of tees.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motif
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motif
Noun
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Ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary this year, her lecture will touch on the themes and significance of the People’s Bicentennial Quilt.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The Vatican says fighting corruption in the mineral-rich country and insisting on the correct uses of political authority are expected to be themes of Leo’s visit, which starts Wednesday with his arrival in Yaounde, the capital.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Yet the pattern is blessed only in retrospect.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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These systems often involve black holes of unequal mass and display strong wobbling and irregular spin patterns.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Support journalism that digs deeper into topics that matter most to Arkansans.—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
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Other frequent topics include weather issues such as storms and drought and weed identification.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Rumors about the product have been swirling since last year, and the latest scoop says the company may be testing four different designs for the wearable.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
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In the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul strains to show that the Gentile mission and the Jerusalem mission, though carried out by mutually mistrustful parties, belong to a single divine design.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Broadway and Downtown, 12South, East Nashville and The Gulch each have a distinct feel, so choosing where to base yourself matters.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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The team and players — two of whom accepted asylum offers to remain in Australia — didn't comment on the matter.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Verbeten introduced her bill at the Senate Judiciary Committee, and there were a lot of questions.—
Esme Murphy,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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Have questions about ordering or a purchase?—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motif.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motif. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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